West Orange Continues Discussion on Fate of Ridgeway Avenue Property

Photos

Exterior of Main House, Ridgeway Property Credits: Cynthia Cumming
Interior of main house Credits: Cynthia Cumming
Interior of main house Credits: Cynthia Cumming
Mayor Parisi speaks to the crowd at St. Joe's Parish Hall gym. Credits: Cynthia Cumming
Daniel Dowd, landscape architect, discusses passive recreation options. Credits: Cynthia Cumming

West Orange Continues Discussion on Fate of Ridgeway Avenue Property

Cynthia Cumming

Tuesday, June 19, 2012 • 7:28am

WEST ORANGE, NJ - More than 70 St. Cloud residents and town officials filled St. Joe's Parish Hall gym Monday night to continue discussions on the fate of the Ridgeway Property, located at 55-57 Ridgeway Avenue.

The property was given to the town in 2004 by the Life Christian Church in exchange for property at 747 Northfield Avenue, where TLCC is currently building its new church (projected open date October 2012). For the first time, residents were allowed to view the interior of the two buildings on the property, the main house and the carriage house. Mayor Robert Parisi led the meeting. In attendance were Council members Susan McCartney, Victor Cirilo, and Joe Krakoviak; Daniel Dowd, Landscape Architect assigned to the project; Ken Kayser, Assistant Town Attorney; and Len Lepore, Public Works.

No consensus, save the concern over increased traffic along Ridgeway Avenue, was reached, although several residents expressed ideas about the usage of the buildings. Realtors from Cass, Weichert, and Towne Realty were invited to view the properties and offered possibilities such as a bed and breakfast, a luxury spa, luxury suites, and residential purchase by a single owner, which they did not feel would be marketable.

Residents suggested a park; a community house, and housing for non-profits, with concerns voiced about all. Since the town owns the property, Green Acres funding is not available, which is only available for acquisition and not redevelopment. Preliminary estimates for rehabilitation of the main and carriage houses were estimated at $1,462,997.92, with an additional $26,780 for possible mold remediation. Demolition of the main house was estimated at $ 45,500 and the carriage house at $22,000.

Parisi reiterated that the neighborhood would decide the future of the property, and said that it would be best to have residents sign up to participate in smaller groups to discuss and research viable options over the summer. A meeting would be held in early fall with committee results. He also expressed his concern that as more time passed, the more the property would fall into disrepair.

Dowd then addressed the crowd about "passive recreation" use for the undeveloped property (sans the main and carriage houses). There would be walkways, plants, foliage, no parking, and modified repair of the wall facing the Ridgeway Avenue side of the property, with estimated costs at $80,000. The property adjoins the Augustinian Recollects order, who were original owners of the Ridgeway property.

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